Outdated laws blocking children from detail appointments

Fianna Fáil TD for Offaly Tony McCormack has warned of a growing dental crisis as corporate dental providers will no longer be able to treat medical card holders because of outdated legislation.

His comments follow the announcement by Truly Dental that it will stop providing treatment under the HSE medical card scheme from June 24.

Under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which was established under the Health Act 1970, dental care for medical card holders is provided through agreements between the HSE and individual dentists. However, dental providers have outlined that the legislation does not allow contracts to be held directly by dental companies or corporate groups.

Speaking on the issue, Deputy McCormack said:

“This legislation was designed for a different era when dental care in Ireland was delivered almost entirely through small independent practices.

“Ireland has changed and the way dental care is delivered has changed with it.

“Corporate dental providers now play a pivotal role in meeting the dental needs of communities across the country. When Truly Dental opened in Tullamore, it was seen as a godsend because it increased access to a service that was already under significant pressure.

“The legislation now needs to be updated. We cannot have a situation where one of the largest dental providers in the state is unable to provide services to medical card holders.

“These dentists should not become victims of their own success while patients who rely on these services are left without access to essential dental care.”